It
comes a week after Downton Abbey fans were left appalled by a violent
rape scene, which critics condemned as a ploy to make the drama more
exciting.

Meanwhile TV
campaigners said the twist in the episode of Doc Martin was
inappropriate for a series that has a reputation for offering
inoffensive content suitable for children, even though it was shown
after the 9pm watershed.

Pippa
Smith, co-chairman of campaign group Safermedia, said: ‘It was far too
graphic even if it was on at 9pm. We also know that children will be
watching.

'It is not the sort of thing you would
expect from this series and seems to be following a recent trend towards
harder more unpleasant story lines as we have seen in the normally
gentle Downton Abbey.

'This is not entertainment.’ And
Vivienne Pattison, director of MediaWatch, urged broadcasters to
consider using warnings ahead of unusually graphic scenes. Last night an ITV spokesman said: ‘Details of the storyline had been trailed in advance of transmission.’

In the show, Louisa Glasson was seen chasing after her husband Doctor Martin Ellingham, played by Martin Clunes, after they had rowed.

Blowing on a plastic whistle and
shouting after his retreating figure she is seen running across a
country road when a car unexpectedly appears and smashes into her
causing her to roll onto the bonnet before tumbling to the ground.

Doc
Martin, now in its sixth series, is set in a sleepy Cornish seaside
town and stars Martin Clunes in the title role. It airs on Mondays
between 9pm and 10pm.